Posted by: Bruce Einhorn on August 17, 2010

October’s New Delhi Commonwealth Games* were supposed to be for India what the 2008 Beijing Olympics were for China, the big sporting event showcasing the country’s arrival as an economic power. Instead, the Games are putting the spotlight on India’s worst problems, widespread corruption and poor infrastructure. Check out this story by my Bloomberg colleague, Subramaniam Sharma. “A day after the delayed opening of the weightlifting hall for New Delhi’s Commonwealth Games,” the story begins, “workers in white helmets climbed across its roof to fix leaks.” Subbu adds, “While state control in China ensured [Beijing] was ready for rehearsals, Delhi’s government-run efforts have been mired in delays, accusations of corruption and mismanagement.”

With more than a dozen other Commonwealth Games venues also behind schedule, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the weekend ordered an investigation. That begs the question of why Singh waited so long. The Commonwealth Games ain’t the Olympics, and as the Financial Times points out, several big-name athletes are giving it a pass. (Queen Elizabeth isn’t planning on showing up, either.) Still, this is a major event and I can’t see why Singh is stepping in only now, less than 50 days before the Games are scheduled to begin. Say what you will about the Chinese government, this kind of embarrassment wouldn’t happen in China.

* Originally I wrote the Games start in September, but opening day is October 3.

Reader Comments

Bq

August 17, 2010 8:23 AM

Welcome to the Hindu culture. This one event brings all of india's weakness together. Yet the passive fatalistic non competitive culture won't change.

As long as there is no discipline this area because of India will be in constant anarchy. Anything good will be either taken from them or squandered. The cast system and all the rituals that India brags about in their ads is the enemy.

Ever wonder why no outer region wants anything to do with India and look at the inward looking pompous ritualistic Hindu elite.

I left.

Lakshimi

August 17, 2010 10:14 AM

India is democracy. It cannot be compared with a commy country. Why didn't you compare it with your country, the U.S. of A? Both Atlanta and L.A. Olympics were disasters.

Bilanski

August 17, 2010 12:02 PM

Have worked with many Chinese and Indian over the years. The Chinese are just quicker (and smarter).

Raj

August 17, 2010 1:01 PM

The stadia in Delhi are not only unfinished but very shoddily built. I worry for the athletes as there are reports of pools of water that are breeding mosquito and maggots. I thought we would have problems with security and terror attacks or maybe the oppressive heat but this has turned into a health and safety issue.

Irrational Indians

August 17, 2010 1:05 PM

One must question why a country like India is selected to host such an event in the first place. India is not traditionally strong in sports. They won 1 medal at the last Olympics. There are 800 million people in India living on

Kumar

August 17, 2010 5:10 PM

Why Mr. Singh waited so long? First, Mr. Singh does not have authority to crack down on corruption. Although he is a nice person but not a great leader. He is not able to win an election. Second, The party, which Mr. Singh belongs to is a gang of sycophants who pull all the plugs behind the scenes. Who is involved in this scandal? His own partymen are involved in this scandal. Now thanks to the delay and out of control situation, Ms. Sonia is trying to save her face and congress party. Oh yeah, I forgot India too.
It's not that other parties would have been any good. They are equally bad. Let's please stop comparing India to China. Patriotism run high in China's veins. India is independent but a slave of its own corrupt, incapable, and idiot politicians. All these governing bodies lack character and unless we get a good leadership, no matter how hard my fellow white collar slaves work, these crooks back home won't mend their ways.

China is way ahead than India in every sense. Comparing India to China is like comparing oranges to apples.

I am an Indian, and I am ashamed of our so called (leadership if there is any).

- aK

a

August 17, 2010 5:42 PM

It should have all been done in private hands..NOT THE GOVERNMENT..that is the only way progress will come to india

JeffAsh

August 17, 2010 7:32 PM

India Shining my ass...

Munasinghe

August 17, 2010 8:03 PM

First of all, the games in India have been government controlled too. Kalmadi was given the job due to his government ties. There is no difference in the way India and China had controls over their respective games. The big difference is that Chinese plan and execute better. Indians on the other hand blame it on democracy and human rights but these two issues have nothing to do with why China performed better than India. In fact, the CWG will be known forever for its flaying of human rights with children as young as three working at the sites. China would have been too proud to do that. CWG has resulted in much agony to the poor (same as in China), many deaths and complete mismanagement. This game has gone badly not because of the difference in the system of government between China and India but because Indians are inefficient lot. They feel the whole world is always against them.

As a Sri Lankan, I would be happy to see the game fail. If success at the CWG was India's coming out party, then surely failure is India showing its true colours.

MythNReality

August 17, 2010 8:15 PM

India lives up to its well-deserved reputation as the preeminent underachiever among nations. India has a knack for defying the most pessimistic predictions by performing even worse than expected. This sham of a preparation must be unprecedented in the history of the Commonwealth Games, no, the history of sports. I can say with confidence that there has never been such a painfully plodding, incompetently executed, and thoroughly corrupt preparation for an international sporting event, be it the Olympics, the Asiad, the World Cup, or the Commonwealth Games. The incredible India has indeed done the incredible: being a self-proclaimed Great Power while botching a modest sporting event. Even the small nation of Greece, with a sliver of India's population, has hosted the Olympic Games, which dwarfs the Commonwealth Games not only in scale but also logistical and infrastructural demands. India the super power soon-to-be? Bah! Try India the giant pygmy that can't match the tiny Greece! With a political class of sycophants and incompetents, India would be lucky to hold itself together for another 60 years, much less aspiring to Great Power status.
Speaking of Great Powers, I recall that a few years back, there was voluminous talk in India about catching up with China and surpassing it. Many Indians, driven by delusions of grandeur, flooded the Internet forums, belching the "India Shining" balderdash as unremittingly as the Gulf oil spill. Ever since the Chinese hosted the Beijing Olympics, which was an astounding display of China's organizational and sporting prowess, the Indian pastime of fantasizing about overtaking China has suffered a precipitous decline. Through the Beijing Olympics, the Indians caught a glimpse of reality, which sharply moderated their false pride. The Indian ego was further deflated by the release of Slumdog Millionaire, which allowed the Western movie audiences a rare peek into the real India, whose grotesquery had hitherto been obscured by decades of Gandhian sanctimony and more recently, a thick layer of triumphalist maquillage. Now comes the Commonwealth Games fiasco, the last play in a trifecta of crushing publicity, and it may just do the impossible: muzzling the famously motor-mouthed Indians and putting their silly delusions to rest. No wonder India was fated to discover zero, for India is a ZERO!

lol

August 17, 2010 11:43 PM

agreed.. india promises the sky but delivers dirt

Steven

August 18, 2010 12:40 AM

What are you talking about? Indian advanced big mouth just said that CWG will be better than Beijing Olympics.

Other than the delays of the construction. Security is a big issue. 200 million Muslims in India are forced to live at the bottom. In recent days, Indian police killed at least 55 peaceful Muslim protesters in Kashmir. Hindus installed a huge explosive pot in their own country. Poor Maoists have to take weapons to fight for their lives with their lives.

Also New Delhi is the place where superbugs are plenty and antibiotics cannot cure.

Treasure you live, stay away from India.

Ah Singh

August 18, 2010 1:55 AM

But Bruce, India is a deomocracy and is therefore destined to be a superpower! It won't matter how or if these Commonwealth Games are held at all, India is destined to surpass China and then the US to become the world's No 1 economy! Remember that only a few months ago, BW told us that India has already won the "Asian Auto Derby," China is no match with India because all of China's economic statistics are fake, the car sales figures are fake and even the Beijing Olympics is fake... it never happened...Western journalists are bribed to write propaganda for the Chinese government ... Bruce, you should have faith in Hindu democracy! Jai Hind!

whocares

August 18, 2010 2:18 AM

Yes, its embrassment but who cares there wont be much media coverage anyway because people more or less expected it. Its India, remember? Lets put it this way, if its embrassment media in asia will play it down as not to embarass india, if its a success or should i say even a mild success, non indian media will also not do anything cause the indian media will be very hype up on it already.

So the reality is wheather its good or bad, non indian media will just do a simple reporting and thats it.

It will only be hype up if extraordinary things happens like terrorism or extra superb performance by Indian atheletes then this will hype up by non indian media as ppl do not expect such a thing to happen.

But let just hope if it do get hype up it is for the good reason and not otherwise.

From a non-indian asian citizen.

India Shining

August 18, 2010 8:28 AM

Another Shining example of India's abilities to over-promise and under-deliver. Next step, mind-numbing negotiation of the blame game, followed by exuberant celebration of the accomplishments by the nonparticipants!

BRIJ MATHUR

August 18, 2010 11:28 AM

One word describes:
PATHETIC

Moe Joe

August 19, 2010 12:06 PM

Right. This wouldn't happen in China because if it did, you would be shot. For 2008, didn't people practice for 12-14 hours straight wearing diapers?

Comparison to Beijing's 2008 success is all media hype.

We can only hope India takes away some lessons from this embarrassment.

Georgie M

August 20, 2010 7:31 AM

India is turning out to be the joke of the century. And a clown to boot. But what really perplexes me is the state of denial.

One poster (Lakshimi) wrote that Atlanta and LA Olympics were disasters. Says who? At least they opened on time. And in spectacular fashion.

Another (Ah Singh) wrote that everything about China is fake. Hey, just take a flight to Beijing and see for yourself the wonderful stadiums they built. Plus the supporting infrastructure like 8 brand new subway lines (not stations but complete lines!!).

And why would western journalists be bribed to write anything? And oh, I can assure you that China's 2.5 trillion dollars (US$) in foreign reserves is all real.

I cringed when BBC current affair programme Hardtalk last month interviewed the guy who was in charge of the Indian Commonwealth Games. He kept harping that the west had always looked down on India's ability to stage the games and proudly insisted that the CG would surpass Beijing's Olympics. What an idiot! And there are more idiots on this forum as well taking a similar line.

This is way beyond India's league. They should have just stuck with the IPL.

Georgie M

August 20, 2010 7:47 AM

One more mystery.

Was always been puzzled as to why so many Indians would in the midst of a busy sidewalk or even road sides would simply stop and squat - leaving behind a pile of excrement. Later found out that as many as 650 million Indians do not have access to toilet facilities. Hence the famous Indian stop and squat. Wow!

Just do the maths. The estimated cost of staging the CG ranges from US$4 billion to a wild $10 billion. Surely that money could have built a lot of toilets! Enough to serve the 650 million stop-and-squatters.

Just a thought.

MC AJ

August 20, 2010 11:14 AM

Oh my, so much hatred against India. I'm certain most of you are pissed about losing your jobs to India. I know, it must hurt to take up a McDonalds job in a recessionary economy, right? Now, back to the point. The Indian gov't has always been inept in managing large-scale events. This is not news to us. We don't want to emulate China by any means since we don't believe in oppressive regimes. One thing we can learn is to take pride in what we do and do it right.

JiaMing

August 20, 2010 11:16 AM

Many people, particularly in the west, believe that the right system, be it democracy or free-market capitalism, can dictate human behaviors. So whenever any problems caused by human behaviors come up, such as corruption or economic bubble burst, people look to the system for a magic fix. The idea seems to be that if the system is designed correctly, then people within the system can misbehave however they want and problems will not occur. With this belief, morality is rendered irrelevant. When are people, whether Indians or Americans, going to realize that the attitudes and morality of the individual citizens play an equally important role in the success of a country?

owen

August 20, 2010 1:04 PM

The above Ah Singh is fool, knowing nothing about the world and China !

owen

August 20, 2010 1:06 PM

The above Ah Singh is fool, knowing nothing about the world and China.

jcage

August 20, 2010 4:40 PM

In the past, whenever China was mentioned, one can see the 1000's of comment of Hindu nationalist trying to tout India as the counter balance against China! How India was rising, shining and how India was incredible. Many of these articles on China, India was never mentioned at all or just barely mentioned, but it was enough for the Hindu nationalist to bash China and the Chinese while praising India as the next super power in the same vein as the USA!!
Well, now the same Hindu nationalists are trying to downplay the comparison or even trying to say that it is just media hype of comparing India Common Wealth Game with Beijing Olympic! How convenient! How hypocritical of them!
The India simply set themselves up for failure and ridicule! What a joke! I guess after this coming disaster of the India CWG in which we can all see India rising, shining and incredible, let's hope the Hindu nationalist stop with their mindless bragging and shameless self promotion! I guess that the Hindu nationalist will stop their shameless bragging when India finally implode economically in the coming years, then there would peace on this world!

Georgie M

August 20, 2010 7:06 PM

To Moe Joe,

You have just articulated the very reason
why India has proven itself to be so inept with organising such a relatively insignificant sporting event. Lets first be very clear - Olympics is several levels above a Commonwealth games. No comparison.

12-14 hours wearing diapers. That somehow is irrefutable proof that India is somehow superior to China? That is the most idiotic and yet revealing insight I have read in this forum. Ask yourself this simple question. If the participants in the opening ceremony were allowed to go to the toilets whenever they want to, would they be able to rejoin their respective contingents that easily - especially when they are on the move. We are talking big numbers - I assume you have actually watched the Beijing opening ceremony. Or perhaps you expected the Chinese to adopt the famously Indian symbol of national embarrassment - the stop-and-squat - to dispense with the need for using diapers.

But I guess in India you would have done everything differently of course. Hence the present anxiety and chaos.

One thing I hope you and other arrogant and proud (but without due justification) is to show more humility.

I love Muhammed Ali even when he was all mouth and supremely arrogant. Why? Because he always delivered what he arrogantly proclaim he will do. India has done nothing of the sort as yet. So stop being in a state of denial and be more humble and realistic. Then perhaps you will catch up to the Chinese in another 100 years or so.

Georgie M

August 20, 2010 7:31 PM

To Ah Singh:

Very simple solution - assuming you can afford to do it. Just take a flight to Beijing and see with your own eyes the many marvellous sporting arenas that have been constructed (way ahead of schedule, I may add) for the Olympics. And also witness the 8 additional new subway lines constructed for the Olympics in Beijing. I am talking about 8 new complete subway lines and not stations. Shanghai has replicated this feat for the Expo. Again largely ahead of schedule.

I may also assure you that China's US2.5 trillion foreign reserves is very real. And that never once have I ever experienced anyone defecating in the streets of Shanghai or Beijing. In your premier city Mumbai that happens all the time, even in busy streets. Just like in Paris except in Paris the excrement is not human.

Finally, I am puzzled - why would western journalists accept bribes to write glowing accounts of China's progress? Do you seriously believe that any, let alone all western journalists can be bribed? Maybe in India but surely not in the west. Your patriotic pride is commendable but at this present time it is highly misplaced. You must know your own weakness before you can take steps to become stronger. Opening your big mouth and proclaiming to the world that you have arrived when it is abundantly clear you have not is not the way to become better and stronger.

India's rush to try to upstage Beijing is most untimely and ultimately most unfortunate. You have in excess of 650 million citizens with no access to toilet facilities (hence the famous Indian stop-and-squat). Just imagine how the money you have spent on the CWG (estimates range from US$4 to $10 billion) could be better used to provide such basic amenities.

jcage

August 20, 2010 10:51 PM

"Moe Joe
August 19, 2010 12:06 PM

Right. This wouldn't happen in China because if it did, you would be shot. For 2008, didn't people practice for 12-14 hours straight wearing diapers?"-----
Any evidence for your above statement or it is another of many displays of India as master of Bull$*** and irrelevance and shameless braggart?

"Moe Joe
August 19, 2010 12:06 PM
Comparison to Beijing's 2008 success is all media hype."
Hindu nationalists were bragging that the 2010 Common Wealth Game in India was a warm up for the Olympic in India on 2020 as one Indian writer wrote on BusinessWeek!

Abhi

August 21, 2010 12:28 AM

The problem with western press is that they take consolation with asian countries having problems. Why dont you look at the way Katrina Hurricane was handled by US government. The same happened there also...chaos, people raped and killed for food. and for those people who are feeling sorry for muslims in india...let me tall you that they are more secured than anywhere else in the world..more than US or even Gulf countries....
I know why so many here putting their droppings here....afterall there is something called FRUSTRATION.

Ravi

August 21, 2010 1:56 AM

The commonwealth games matters very little to people in India and outside. It could be moment of pride or embarrassment, most likely the latter. India is in the news much to the western and chinese consternation because of the economy, business and the talents of its people. Whatever happens to CWG will be forgotten in no time. Some crooks have made quick big money at the expense of public funds and they will sooner or later payback for their bad karma. As a country or economy you don't need a spectacularly well received showpiece event to progress though it doesnt hurt. Whatever misdeeds of the CWG organizing committee is coming out in the public domain is good as it will be a good lesson to learn. May be there will be better laws designed to stop this kind of swindling of public money. Make no mistake, CWG is nothing about India, its economy or its business environment. It was just some politician's bad idea for displaying national pride.

SadButTrue

August 21, 2010 9:27 AM

I bet after the Games finish in October the Indians would use it as an example it is capable of holding International sporting event and will then go forward to bid for the Olympics 2020.

Oh roll on 2020. By then if you look at many comments posted Indian netizens and quite a few Indian economists India will become a SUPERPOWER overtaking China and indeed challenging the US of A. Of course, by then India being a SUPERPOWER will complete the preparation of for the OLympics 2020 3 years ahead of time,and hold the most spectecular Olympics ever. And... not to mention that it will have built largest most extensive highspeed rail network in the world, send a man to the moon, build the largest space station.....

SRC

August 21, 2010 10:07 AM

Let's look at something similar. I volunteer for the youth Olympic games now happening in Singapore and I have also been involved in some of the logistics efforts.

I am amazed at three things. First, the level of preparation, contingency and backup plans the organisers have implemented. Second, the functioning of each event... heads will roll if there is a serious mess-up. Third, accountability for every dollar spent, from the lowest level to the highest organiser. I lost a receipt for a $1 bottle of water and I had to bear the cost !

Even then we had some problems here and there. However I should say we're doing far better than many feared in a first attempt at anything of this scale.

If such a small city-state with very limited resources and manpower can organise the YOG, held in 18 different venues around the island, I see no practical reason why India cannot achieve something even better.

Steven

August 21, 2010 10:55 AM

Asian Games will be held in Guangzhou, Capital of Guangdong province, China in late Nov. But Guangzhou is READY.

Jim

August 21, 2010 7:30 PM

Haha

August 21, 2010 11:50 PM

Don't judge a book by its cover. India is like a book, with an extremely glossy and colorful cover, but the actual content is, well, unreadably bad.

pangzi

August 22, 2010 1:11 AM

Indian should celebrate democracy beside the unfinished stadiums.

SadButTrue

August 22, 2010 7:58 AM

What if we throw a party and nobody turns up? I wonder this is likely to happen to New Delhi?

Motse

August 22, 2010 9:53 AM

China and South Africa managed it and they show cased efficient and well produced games. Shame on India.
Motse in Botswana, Africa.

IndiaTurdWorldCountry

August 22, 2010 8:20 PM

You Indians are really something special. There's an old saying in Texas, "it ain't bragging if you've done it". For years now, I've witnessed an incessant stream of self-idolizing, grandiloquent drivel out of India, such as "India is Shining", "India will be a super power by 2020", "India will overtake China", "Mumbai will be better than Shanghai in five years", "India will host Olympics in 2020", India this, India that, blah blah blah blah blah blah... India sure talks the good talk, but it can't walk the walk. Heck, never mind walking, can India even crawl? Infrastructure can't get built with idle boasts, so all the triumphalist nonsense is sadly beside the point. Thanks to the UN Development Agency's new MPI Poverty Report and various other surveys, we now know that 55% of Indians live BELOW poverty line; 47% of Indian children are malnourished and therefore physically as well as mentally stunted (a percentage higher than Sudan and North Korea!); 20% of Indians go hungry everyday, of whom women suffer disproportionately; 160 million Untouchables are being oppressed by the Caste System and denied the very basic of rights; functional literacy stands at around a pathetic 50%, etc. All the figures add up to India being poorer than most Sub-Saharan African states. Now, here's an idea for you Indians: how about putting a lid on your loud mouths and start doing real work for a change? Put action over words, substance over style, and actual results over marketing gimmicks. If you Indians can do that, you might just catch China by, say, 2150.

HoneyBunny

August 23, 2010 12:42 AM

Luckily for India, nobody around the world really cares about the Commonwealth Games.

Puneeth Joseph

August 23, 2010 3:50 AM

The editors who edit comments here are very biased. Many good mails dont get published if the author name sounds indian. Any mail with a white mans name surely gets published even if they use filthy language. Bunch of lousy guys.

Puneeth Joseph

August 23, 2010 4:01 AM

This mail is for all those India bashers. Remember India has a population of 1 billion. Thats 2 times USA and 1/4 th the size of USA. We have come a long way from the time we got independence. America is a vast country with very less population and of course all brians are outsiders and it is a superpower dispite having so many lazy people with avg IQ. The only problem with india is our politicians are corrupt.We need to fix that problem which is going to take some time. Many of you havven't seen real china. You guys must have just seen the center of Beijing & Shanghai. The poverty & the filth is pushed towards the villages. However, for Americans America is the world. They have no knowledge anything outside the USA. Sorry to say that.

Mathew

August 23, 2010 4:05 AM

Georgi M, You are wrong. We cannot spend all our money building toilets. We need nuclear bombs too. Or else US will attack India in the name of WMD and hang our prime minister.

Husin O'Bama

August 23, 2010 5:11 AM

It should have aimed for something more appropriate for its current sporting prowess like the YOG, and it could showcase something without having to splash out too much money.

To make things worse, the Queenie will not be coming and the CWG is doomed for a slow death after this fiasco.

Jagadish C

August 23, 2010 5:26 AM

If we expected any better, we should get our heads examined. Name one project handled by the Indian government that's ever been completed on time, under cost and without corruption or major accidents. Sadly, the culprits always get away scot free since they're well connected.

Tarun

August 23, 2010 11:04 AM

I believe everyone is forgetting about the mega cricketing event IPL. Yup I know you all'll say its not even comparable to commonwealth games, but I just wanna remind you all that its the mismanagement of Indian government that you are seeing in CWG. If this event had been given to private sector of India, Chinese Olympics would have been seemed dull infront of Indian CWG. So, I would say that CWG fiasco is not a correct assessment of Indian prowess.

Raj

August 23, 2010 6:27 PM

CWG failure, as predicted by most of the writers here probably will not diminish India's long-term world standing. Similarly a success would not enhance it much either. CWG are indeed a minor blip on the big radar. Generally, what India lacks in its quest towards greatness among nations are essential traits like a national character, reasonable levels of literacy, honesty, charitable spirit, compassion towards others including animals, civic sense and above all population control. In general, Indians relish it when someone stumbles and falls down to their level rather than they themselves aspiring to achieve a higher level unaided and also pulling someone less fortunate up with them. I couldn't stand the all too pervasive corruption and dishonesty, so I left. No regrets.

Subrata

August 23, 2010 7:25 PM

All Americans, go to http://usdebtclock.org/ and you will see what you have gotten yourself into. I am thinking of migrating elsewhere.. maybe India???

jcage

August 24, 2010 3:54 AM

"Tarun
August 23, 2010 11:04 AM
If this event had been given to private sector of India, Chinese Olympics would have been seemed dull infront of Indian CWG."

More could have , would have type of imaginary scenario... What has the mighty Indian private companies done to make them stand out in your mind? Most of the Indian private companies got their position inside India through bribes and connection! Does India has any private companies that are anything comparable with Microsoft, Intel, Oracles or IBM? Just because these American companies use a lot India cheap labor does not make them Indian companies!

Georgie M

August 24, 2010 7:27 AM

The following article says it all. Asian games start in November and a glaring contrast to the chaos in Delhi. And you got that right - 70 sporting venues to be handed over ahead of time. For those who want to go directly to the website:

All 70 Asian Games venues to be handed over by month's end
Updated:2010-08-12 14:56:51 Source: english.gz.gov.cn
So far, 67 of the 70 competitive and practicing venues for the Asian Games have been handed over to the Asian Games organisers, with the remaining three to follow by the end of this month.

According to Gu Shiyang, Deputy Secretary General of the Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee and the Guangzhou Municipal Government, 67 of the 70 competitive and practicing venues for the Asian Games have been handed over to the Asian Games organisers, with the remaining three to follow by the end of this month, and 48 management teams have been assigned to 53 competition venues, and the management teams for 31 non-competition venues have also been formed and will undergo three months of training. The main operating centre will be put into service by the end of August as well.

Georgie M

August 24, 2010 7:40 AM

To MC AJ:

And India is not oppressive? Must be very oppressive for the dalits or untouchables. India is the most caste conscious nation in the world - and that is not oppressive?

If China is to be considered oppressive then at least it has elevated a huge percentage of her people above the poverty line. At least 600 million people. I bet those same 600 million people don't mind being oppressed - at least now they don't need to "stop-and-squat" on busy streets. They now have their own flushing toilets.

So stop harping on the fact that democracy on its own is anything fantastic if they don't bring any tangible benefits to the people. Singapore is not truly democratic (single family dynasty really) and yet in slightly more than 30 years they have gone from Indian-like dirt poor to now 2nd richest country in the world! As ranked by IMF.

India has almost 65 years of independence and so-called democracy and she still has 665 million people who has to defecate in the streets of major cities. I wouldn't be too proud if I were you.

Georgie M

August 24, 2010 8:07 AM

To Tarun:

Another proud but unjustified comment.

IPL is all just about one sport played only by white men and brown-skinned wannabees.

How can that possibly compare to the Olympics?

I thought that the construction of the stadiums etc are by private firms. But then shoddy workmanship and inability to meet deadlines are the result.

Like I wrote earlier. You cannot become stronger or better without knowing your own weaknesses. And Indians seem to just talk and not following it up with concrete action. If this persists India will never ever catch up to China, not even in a hundred years.

So my advice is - shut up and just work on your weaknesses and failings. Never mind the pride or humiliation.

Indian

August 24, 2010 4:32 PM

Im an Indian and have to agree with the majority of American comments. We are an international joke. Commonwealth Games are much worse than Asian Games in 82. Let us hope militants to not target athletes and coaches. Here we are dreaming of hosting Olympics in '20, with luck maybe 2120.

Raj

August 24, 2010 4:34 PM

I would like to remind everyone who may be praising the success of IPL cricket that IPL is also a tainted body. IPL would cease to exist if the league management did not pay off all the government officials, police and security personnel and cabinet ministers who are involved in IPL at every level - all the way from clandestine franchise ownerships via their shell compaines to fleecing the league for free tickets for themselves and their families under the guise of being privileged VIPs. I believe the reason IPL seems to function as well as it does is not for lack of corruption and greed of officials but simply the abundance of money brought in by the league. In other words, for once there is enough left over to run a great show even after the govt officials have had their fill at the trough. This doesn't seem to be the case with CWG, so the games must suffer and pay the penalty!

Georgie M

August 24, 2010 7:30 PM

Tarun, when you bragged about Indian prowess you neglected to give us some examples.

Are you talking about military prowess? In early 60's China crossed your border and made huge territorial gains. They then handed the territory back - China has already made her point.

Economic prowess? Yes it is starting to rise but you are still way behind the curve compared to East Asian economies. Singapore took slightly more than 30 years to become 2nd richest country (per IMF) from a 3rd world status. India has done far less in 65 years since independence. China even more spectacular. In less than 30 years China has overtaken Japan and is on track to overtake USA in 2025. BTW this is not China's boast but as per most economists' reckoning.

Sporting prowess? Ask yourself this one question - with a population in excess of 1.3 billion, how many gold medals has India won in the Olympics within the last 30 years? One. Just one. And that is for shooting, a sport that is in the same league as ten pin bowling. Australia has only 24 million people and they routinely rank in the top 5 of Olympic medal rankings.

So what prowess were you referring to?

wh

August 24, 2010 7:40 PM

To Tarun, you crack me up. You want private companies to run the shows for your country event like the CWG? And it's going to make Beijing Olympics look dull? Well if you love private companies that much why don't you privatize your army, and even your whole government?

For your information, in private companies, the board, the CEO's the CXO's are not elected. They are there to make a profit. There will be no "transparency", no place for you to open your big mouth. And, you, the proud "free" people, would love that? LOL! I know this is not just your idea. It's all over the place in the India's media. How pathetic!

Faye M

August 24, 2010 10:46 PM

Made in India!!

RS

August 24, 2010 11:57 PM

To: GeorgeM

Are you an American or East Asian? Just interest in finding out if there is any bias here.

Georgie m

August 25, 2010 6:06 AM

RS:

Fail to see the relevance to your question. Everyone is biased to some degree.

Look I am not anti-Indian as I grew up amongst Indians and my best childhood buddy was Indian (Tamil). I am anti-big mouth. Like I wrote in an earlier post - I have always been and still am a big fan of Muhammed Ali. He has the world's biggest mouth when he was in his prime. He bragged non-stop. But he delivered.

Now if India brags till the cows come home and yet delivered you would not have seen me in this forum.

Next question......

India Crowned the most Corrupted Country

August 25, 2010 8:05 AM

India has always been known as a highly corrupt country. Two government offices, legal and Police, are the most corrupt among the lot. This is one problem that India needs to take drastic steps to resolve. Here is the Reuters video where Chandrashekhar Krishnan, Executive Director of Transparency International speaks about the latest Bribe Payers Index findings The results draw from the responses of more than 11,000 business people in 125 countries polled in the World Economic Forums Executive Opinion Survey.

Lalitha masson.m d

August 25, 2010 9:17 PM

Chaos corruption and lack of national pride by the leaders ,it is a disgrace to the sporting world nonetheless Indians perform when distressed,they will prevail wake up call for prime minister has been too late all the corrupt beggars have swallowed tons of public funds shame to all the organizing committee fortunately the ancient spirit of India will shine through jai hind

Disbelief

August 25, 2010 10:43 PM

Delays? India? I am shocked!

daharry

August 25, 2010 11:04 PM

Fabricating China's poverty does not improve your construction work. Instead, it gives India a bad international image for its poor performance on almost everything.

Hope the CWG has 24 hour continuous supply of electricity. If India can do it, it will be a big step forward.

RS

August 27, 2010 10:40 AM

GeorgeM

You're right on all accounts with the issue of bias. What really needs explaining is "India is NOT the only country in the world that has corrupt officials". Most countries are & I suspect it is the level of corruption that determines the course or results of a nation. China is certainly corrupt yet its performance has been talked about at every economic forum. Go figure?

samyvellu_21

August 28, 2010 12:27 AM

Give us another 10 years and you see us hosting the Olympics, making China's Olmpic look child play.

Tobe

August 28, 2010 1:22 PM

Puneeth Joseph:

a peasant living on land is many times better than a beggar in slum.

ABC

August 28, 2010 4:57 PM

I'm just waiting for the common man to start seeing the reality of what the darwinian socialist hindu mofo made of what "india" is today. the formation of this country itself is a sin, which should be cleansed. God willing that should happen and let there be life here soon.

SIlvus

August 29, 2010 8:43 AM

World Turd country get your facts straigth. Your facts are marginally almost all wrong. India's poverty is at 27 percent. It was 50 SIXTY YEARS AGO. illteriacy stands at around 30. World Turd country my A@@. I went to my homeland I see change everywhere. Forget China We won't beat them by 2050 of course not. But Americans? Easy. Power is shifting. Westerners (don't know if you would call yourself one?) won't have power by the half of the century. And by 2030 India will be a great power but not a superpower. I know that for sure. To all chinese....you guys are good :)not one said a word in this topic shows how good they are

Suresh

August 29, 2010 11:41 PM

An honest citizen should be matured enough to accept the strengths and weaknesses of his / her country and be practical and realistic.

It is really immatured for indian public or policiticans to anywhere quote india as rising super power. People who say that really do not understand what super power means.

At the drop of a hat, indian public and politicians always make a comparison of India with China.

All these guys should closely observe and listen to what the Chinese leaders talk about where their country stands inspite of the great achievements. They still say they are a poor country and a developing country. I have never heard or read any of their leaders proclaiming their country as a super power or an upcoming one atleast in public.
We indians need to look at us from within, take stock of the current affairs in the country and see where we stand in the world.
What is our present standard of life.
What needs to be done to bring the poor out of poverty.
What kind of leaders have to be elected to lead us.
How to reform our education system to make it accessible to every section of the society and create citizens with great characters.
When we succeed, it is there for everyone to see and so when we fail.

When we fail we need to accept it with a brave heart and need to do a reality check.

Searching for excuses makes us look even more weaker and incapable.

RP

September 1, 2010 3:30 PM

All the comments by non-Indians and some Indians are spot on. I couldn't agree with you guys any less. When the sporting event is run by corrupt body, this is bound to happen. When you have no fear of prosecution and punishment politicians holding power will run amok. Other delusional idiots who brag about India shining need to do some retrospection. I am an Indian and I feel ashamed that we are even hosting this event. I didn't want it. No sensible Indian would want it knowing how corrupt our government is.

Also, those idiots bragging about democracy need to look at past 60 years of history. We elect our governments with 45% voting based on idiotic issues like caste, temples and mosques.
We were ruled by British earlier. Now, we are ruled by clan of powerful families. Seems like nothing much has changed. Instead of pointing out problems in other countries, let's focus on our problems and fix them.

Indian from abroad

September 3, 2010 6:33 AM

you will start eating when you r hungry.

CWG infrastructure will be ready when you r ready to start.

EOS 20D battery

September 5, 2010 11:47 PM

They are appropriately bad. Let's amuse stop comparing India to China. Patriotism run aerial in China's veins. India is absolute but a bondservant of its own corrupt, incapable, and idiot politicians. All these administering bodies abridgement appearance and unless we get a acceptable leadership, no amount how adamantine my adolescent white collar disciplinarian work, these crooks aback home won't mend their ways.

Ajit

September 6, 2010 12:56 PM

I was wondering if the game plans and projects were partly handled by the babus - i.e., IAS officers? If so, we are bound to have this!! India will get a red face for it.

Georgie M

September 6, 2010 10:44 PM

Samyvellu_21:

Empty boasts once again. If it really makes you feel any better then go for it. But it counts for nothing in the real world. Better to shut up, be humble and learn. Key world is learn. So be a good boy and hustle to your room and study hard.

Georgie M

September 6, 2010 10:59 PM

Indian from abroad:

Quite a fatalistic posture to take and this could possible explain the mess not only the CWG but Indian society in general seems to be in at the moment.

Question: what happens if there is no food to be had? Surely India has suffered horrific famines in her history. China also has her famines (too many) in her history as well. But India and China seem to diverge when it comes to learning from their history and experiences. China doesn't seem to brag or boast.. India seems to constantly brag and make empty boasts.
China just quietly go about making herself stronger and her citizens better off. India just seem to have a big chip on her shoulder.

I sincerely wish India well and that the CWG will be a roaring success. But it doesn't seem to be going well at all at this moment and I just hope corners are not going to be cut - this will only aggravate the already hapless and hopeless situation.

buttercookies

September 7, 2010 12:26 AM

This is an Indian affair! So, STFU all non indians!

A.R Raghav

September 18, 2010 6:36 AM

Chinese are quicker...but not that clever...indians are slower than chinese but more intelligent than them

Jagdeep Singh

September 21, 2010 4:37 PM

Well, what can one say now...?

This my friends HAD TO happen!!

As an Indian, for me, the problem with India is HYPOCRISY!!

There is a long list of things that make me throw my head down in shame as an Indian!

For starters, India has FAILED to do anything meaningful for its poor/underpriviledged class, the LARGEST in the world in terms of population! To give my fellow Indians an idea, just in our own Mumbai, 55% live in slums, and all in an area that is just 5% of Mumbai!! That is the 2nd largest slums in the world! And the percentage, according to recent surveys, is increasing! Do we have an idea what that means?

We also have the highest female feticide rate in the world! Now why did it have to be us again!? Whats wrong with women born in India??

India is the country with the highest number of ACTIVE freedom/separatist movements in the world! The present wave of violence in Kashmir has NO foreign involvement this time, much to our embarassment! Why do we have to be so stubborn: after all, we annexed/occupied the Hindu majority Hyderabad from Pakistan, didnt we? So why not stop killing the innocents for once and see what doing the right thing brings for us Indians. Why not listen to the poor/terribly oppressed Maoists for once? And so on...

We have problems with China, we have problems with USA, we have problems with Pakistan, we have problems with Bangladesh, with Australia, with Sri Lanka, with...

Its time we stop punishing our neighbours for not respecting the 'emerging super power'! and start doing something to 'deserve' that respect!

And the worst part is, just because our populations is so large and our labour is so cheap, the west wants us to never wake up to the reality that something is wrong with us!

They wont ever tell us to do anything about our real issues that hamper our progress!

They wont want our Govt to investigate the biggest Industrial Nuclear disaster in the world (Bhopal). Heck the people over there are dying of horrible diseases even TODAY!!

Bollywood tunes and a pat from Uncle Sam really wont take India very far i am convinced. It has to start with an end to being hypocrite!

Comarison with China? We must be kidding!

Prepare the Celebrations!

September 24, 2010 10:07 PM

The world shall see our beautiful games in a few days. What do you say now? Where is your funny stories about India? While athletes feast on greasy food at the arena, our middle class will enjoy their three rupee meals! A thousand flavors of curry to be enjoyed, while India wins the competition!

sympathy

September 25, 2010 11:07 AM

I have great sympathy for India and average Indian people. But I think some of the overseas Indians, particularly those who write for BW and Newsweek and India's netzens may have got ahead themselves too much. They live in western countries and forgot what's the reality back home.

Feed you people first before you go nuclear or shoot moon. Forget about compete or conflict with China. You are not even close.

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Bloomberg Businessweek’s team of Asia reporters brings you the latest insights on business, politics, technology and culture from some of the world’s biggest and fastest-growing economies.